Home > News > International Credit Union Day 2007
 

                                   Contact:  Katie Walton

                Director of Member Communications

                Ohio Credit Union League

                800-486-2917 or 614-336-2894

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Credit Unions Celebrate Serving Their Members

Dublin, Ohio (October 17, 2007) – Credit unions across Ohio and around the world will commemorate International Credit Union Day on Thursday, October 18, under the theme, “Credit Unions: Together We’re Better.”  Ohio’s 438 credit unions and 2.7 million members will celebrate the unique service that credit unions provide and the many ways families and communities benefit from the credit union difference.

As part of the celebration, which runs throughout October, credit unions across Ohio are collecting non-perishable food items to benefit their local communities. All donations will be given to local food pantries. The 4th annual Ohio Credit Union Food Drive celebrates October’s International Credit Union Month and the credit union philosophy of People Helping People.

On International Credit Union Day and throughout the month, credit unions will celebrate their tradition of dedication to their members and the members’ financial success. As not-for-profit financial institutions that are owned and democratically controlled by their members, credit unions provide savings, loans, and other consumer financial services to their members.

Ohio’s 2.7 million credit union members enjoy many benefits, including lower loan rates, better rates on savings, and lower fees. Plus, credit unions provide excellent service.  For 21 years, credit unions topped all other financial institutions in consumer satisfaction ratings in the American Banker/Gallup Consumer survey.  Credit unions led the ratings for staff friendliness and courtesy, speed of loan decisions, deposit rates, and improvements from year-to-year in service quality. 

Credit unions are for everyone, but the law places some limits on the people they may serve. A credit union's charter defines its "field of membership," which could be a community, employer, church, or school.

Here's how to find a credit union to join:

• Visit www.findacreditunion.com. This user-friendly Web site allows consumers to perform a simple search based on their city, county, ZIP code, employer, occupation, school or employer’s location. A list of credit unions you might be eligible to join will be provided, along with a link to more information about each credit union.  Searches can be performed in English or Spanish.

• Ask your boss. Your company may sponsor a credit union or may be a sponsor group that has access to a credit union. Many employers will directly deposit your paycheck to the credit union.

• Poll your family, as most credit unions invite family members to join. Each credit union, however, may define "family" differently. At some, only your immediate family members are eligible. At other credit unions, family may include extended family members, such as grandparents, cousins, uncles, and aunts.

• Quiz the neighbors. Some credit unions have a "community" field of membership, serving a region defined by geography rather than by employment or some other association. Ask friends in the community if they know of a credit union you may join.

• Check the yellow pages. A yellow pages display ad may state a credit union's field of membership. If not, at least you'll know what number to call to ask about membership eligibility.

• Call the Ohio Credit Union League at (800) 486-2917 for personal service in finding a credit union.

For more information on about credit unions, the League at or visit www.OhioCreditUnions.org.

-30-

 The Ohio Credit Union League, with offices in Dublin, is a state trade association representing 438 credit unions.  Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions owned and democratically controlled by their members.  Ohio credit unions provide savings, loans, and other consumer financial services to their 2.7 million members.  To learn more, visit www.OhioCreditUnions.org.